Kuala lumpur: Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) President Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz will propose at the governing body's first council meeting of 2026 here tomorrow, that players become more selective in the tournaments they enter moving forward. Based on last year's tournament statistics presented to him, he noted that while players competed in numerous events, they failed to achieve impressive returns, particularly in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Super 1000 competitions.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Tengku Zafrul observed that none of the Malaysian players succeeded in winning a Super 1000 tournament last year. He emphasized the need for a strategic approach in participating in tournaments to improve performance outcomes. He highlighted that even during the era of renowned players like Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei and Chinese ace Lin Dan, participation in every tournament was not the norm, suggesting a more selective approach for current players.

The best achievement by national representatives in Super 1000 events during the 2025 season came from 2022 world men's doubles champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik at the China Open, and 2025 World Championship women's doubles runners-up Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah at the Indonesia Open.

Tengku Zafrul also expressed intentions to propose greater transparency in BAM's financial management, including detailed disclosures on player contract payments, salaries, bonuses, and tournament participation costs. He stressed the importance of informing sponsors and maintaining openness for accountability. He stated that transparency, while potentially pressuring players, is a standard practiced globally.

Additionally, tomorrow's meeting will address the financial sustainability of the governing body, focusing on strategies to commercialize badminton more effectively, monetize existing assets, and reinvest a portion of proceeds into grassroots development.

The 2026 Malaysia Open, which began last Tuesday, is scheduled to run until this Sunday.